The Intercontinental Exchange recently received approval from the New York State Department of Financial Services for its emerging bitcoin futures exchange platform, Bakkt. According to reports, Bakkt previously received approval for its bitcoin futures product from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission through the self-certification process. The recent approval allows Bakkt to hold custody of customers' bitcoins through its Bakkt Warehouse, which utilizes the same physical and digital protections of the New York Stock Exchange. Additionally, Bakkt may soon allow investors to buy derivatives that pay out with bitcoin. Bakkt recently reported that it aims to promote institutional investment in bitcoin by addressing concerns related to a lack of liquidity, market reliability, regulation, fees and operational risks, with a transparent offering. The first contracts will reportedly be offered Sept. 23, 2019.
Earlier this month, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) approved the application of Houston-based IOI Capital and Markets, LLC (IOICM). This approval allows IOICM to be a placement agent for digital private securities issued on the blockchain-based platform developed and operated by its parent company. According to reports, the firm's Iownit platform will seek to digitize the securities issuance, asset life cycle management and secondary trading processes to create an efficient private market for institutional and accredited investors. The firm reportedly plans to act as a placement agent for privately placed digital securities on a permissioned Hyperledger Fabric blockchain.
According to reports this week, Securitize is now the first SEC-registered transfer agent with a working blockchain protocol, active issuers and integrations that allow trading of digital securities on SEC-registered alternative trading systems. Securitize also reportedly offers a transfer verification tool that allows investors to pre-check the transfer of any digital security token powered by its DS protocol.
This week Gibraltar-based cryptocurrency trading platform INX indicated plans to launch a security token initial public offering (IPO). According to the draft prospectus filed with the SEC on Monday, INX plans to raise $130 million through the sale of 130 million INX tokens, which are based on Ethereum's ERC-20 standard. The prospectus further outlines the firm's plans for the IPO proceeds – up to $8 million for research and development, up to $2.93 million for sales and marketing, up to $3.2 million for regulatory and legal, and up to $1.6 million for product development. According to reports, INX token holders will not be equity holders but will be entitled to 40 percent of the company's net cash flow from operating activities.
For more information, please refer to the following links:
- NYSE Owner to Offer Futures Paying Out in Bitcoin Next Month
- Crypto Co. Gets NY Regulator's OK To Launch Bitcoin Futures
- It Took 18 Months, But This Blockchain Securities Firm Got the Nod From FINRA
- Securitize becomes an SEC-registered transfer agent
- Crypto trading platform INX plans to raise $130M via security token IPO, registered with the U.S. SEC
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